Method and apparatus for making automatic closure for squeeze containers



June 24'; 1969 A. M. HERZIG ET AL 3, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKINGAUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR SQUEEZE CONTAINERS Filed March 17, 1966 Jun 24,1969 A. M. HERZIG ETAL 3,451,120 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKINGAUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR 4 SQUEEZE COMTAINERS Filed March 17, 1966 Sheet 5014 June 24, 1969 A. M. HERZIG ETAL 3,451,120

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR SQUEEZE CONTAINERSFiled March 17, 1966 Sheet 3 of 4 June 24, 1969 A. M. HERZIG ETAL3,451,120

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR SQUEEZE CONTAINERSFiled March 17, 1966 Sheet 4 of 4 United States Patent 3,451 120 METHODAND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AUTO- MATIC CLOSURE FOR SQUEEZE CONTAINERSAlbert M. Herzig, 9465 Wilshire Blvd. 90212, and Benjamin David Menkin,11408 Francis Place 90066, both of Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed Mar. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 535,111 Int. Cl. B23p 11/02; 365d 39/00U.S. Cl. 29446 Claims This invention relates to the art of automaticclosures for squeeze containers, such as particularly, collapsible tubesand the like. The automatic closure for the squeezable container is of atype comprising a flattened neck made of resilient material andconstructed to normally close to retain the contents of the container,but to be capable of automatically opening to release contents of thecontainer as a result of pressure developed from squeezing thecontainer. Automatic closures of this type are shown and described in myprevious Patents Nos. 2,753,091 and 2,815,150.

The method herein involved is one for making automatic closures of thetype shown in the previous patents, with the additional feature that inthe process of manufacture a positive lateral stretch is applied to theresilient neck, the stretch being held in the neck by the stiffeningmember that is clamped to it.

As pointed out in the previous patents, closures of the type describedtherein have many advantages over previously known prior art types ofclosures. The primary object of this invention is to provide improvedmeans for making or manufacturing automatic closures of this type and togenerally provide improvements in methods of making devices heretoforeintended for similar purposes. In the preferred form of the invention,the method is carried out by machinery which is largely automatic andwhereby the closures can be economically, effectively and rapidlymanufactured in large quantities, as will be made clear in thedescription provided hereinafter.

The invention is described herein in a preferred form as applied to aresilient container preferably formed of a material of the nature of anelastomer, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl or rubbery material. Theinvention may, however, be practiced with respect to containers made ofother materials and having other shapes. In a preferred form of theinvention, the closures are fabricated from stock which is originally inthe form of plastic tubing. The automatic closure is made ormanufactured by the execution of a series of processing steps withrespect to the original stock. Briefly, the stock is flattened; thesides of an end part are heat sealed together leaving an intermediateunsealed area, which becomes the openable closure; holes are punched onopposite sides of the intermediate area; the legs of a stiffening memberin the form of a staple are inserted through the holes the neck islaterally stretched transversely at the area of the holes; the legs ofthe staple are clamped in the side portions of the neck; the clampedneck is then bowed; and the material around the formed automatic closureis cutaway and removed to complete the automatic neck closure. It is anobject of the invention to provide the method comprised of the aforesaidsteps, whereby completion of the automatic closure is realized.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved automaticmachinery for carrying out the process. The flattening, heat sealing andpunching of tubular stock many he performed using simplified types offixtures or processing devices. The stretching and clamping of the neckin stretched condition is somewhat more complicated. An object of theinvention is to provide a fixture or device for performing thestretching and clamping steps in the process of fabricating theautomatic closures. Preferably, this fixture takes the form of pairs ofjaws arranged to cooperate with anvils for gripping side portions of theneck and movable to laterally stretch the neck. Preferably, the jawassemblies are cam operated by way of cam surfaces formed on a movablehead. The stiffening means, in the form of a staple, is in place whilethe neck is being stretched. The said fixture embodies additional meansfor automatically clamping the legs of the staple so as to clamp andhold the neck in stretched condition. It is a further object of theinvention to provide novel and improved mechanism as described forperforming the stretching and clamping steps of the process.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the original tubular stock;

FIGURE 2 is a view illustrating the heat sealing of an end part of thetubular stock;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the step of punching holes in the tubular stock andproviding a score line across the unsealed opening area.

FIGURE 4 is a view illustrating the placement of the staple in thepunched holes;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the step of clampingthe stiffening staple to the stretched neck;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the clamped neck with the excessmaterial cutaway;

FIGURE 8 is a a diagrammatic view illustrating the bowing of the clampedautomatic closure;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a squeezable container having theautomatic closure of the invention embodied therein;

FIGURE 10 is a front view of the automatic mechanism or fixture forperforming the stretching and clamping steps of the process;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 10 with the parts inanother position;

FIGURE 12 is a view like FIGURES 10 and 11 with the parts in a furtheradvanced position;

FIGURE 13 is a partial view showing the clamping or setting of thestaple relative to the neck;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken along a plane through the center ofthe fixture of FIGURES 10, 11 and 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the fixture or device for performingthe stretching and clamping steps.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, this figuredesignates the original tube stock which may comprise suitable materialas referred to in the foregoing, which may be in the nature of anelastomer such as polyethylene, polyvinyl or rubbery material. Thetubular stock is flattened in any suitable manner and then portions ofthe flat sides are heat sealed together in an area as shown at 12 inFIGURE 2, leaving an intermediate extending portion 13 between heatsealed areas; this intermediate portion becomes the automatic openableclosure. FIGURE 3 represents a further step in the process wherein holesor openings 15 and 16 are punched through the sealed stock on oppositesides of the intermediate area 13 as shown.

FIGURE 4 shows the stiffening member in the form of a staple 24 in placewith its legs 25 and 26 inserted through the holes or openings 15 and16. FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate a clamping die in which the heat sealedneck part of the tube stock is placed for stretching and clamping of thestaple or stiffening member 24. The die shown in FIGURES 5 and 6comprises anvil plate 29 and a movable clamping die member 30 having adepression 31. The member 30 is moved upwardly as will be describedpresently, while the neck portion 12 is stretched laterally. The legs ofthe staple are clamped into the position as shown in FIGURE 6 so thatthe intermediate portion 33 of the neck is held stretched laterally bythe stiffening member or staple 24.

FIGURE 7 shows the container and automatic closure in substantiallycompleted state. FIGURE 9 shows the container and automatic closurecompleted. In FIGURES 7 and 9 the container is designated at 40. InFIGURE 7 parts of the sealed area 12 have been cut away as shown. At oneend of the container are heat sealed areas 43 and 44 which were part ofthe original heat sealed area 12 and at the other end of the containeris a heat sealed area 46.

After the steps of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the neck portion of the containeris placed in another die havin a configuration as shown at 35 in FIGURE8. The clamped neck portion is bowed as shown in FIGURE 8 by means of aplunger stem 36 that moves towards the die 35, which has depression orrecess 37 and the secondary recess 38 into which the neck is bowed.

The openable closure is designated at 13 being an unsealed area betweenthe lips of the neck 33 which are held laterally stretched as describedand which are held stretched and bowed by the staple or stiffeningmember 24. The material of the lip at the unsealed area 13 which isfarthest from the staple 24 is able to bow out or flex as the result ofpressure generated by squeezing the contained 40 to allow material fromthe container to be discharged or ejected. Upon termination of squeezingwhen pressure is not being generated, the lips again come together toform a closure as the result of the lateral tensioning and because ofthe neck being bowed by the staple 24.

Briefly, summarizing the steps of the process as so far described, thesteps include the flattening of the tube stock; the forming of thetransverse heat sealed area; the punching of the holes for thestiffening staple, placing the legs of the staple in the holes; thetransverse stretching and the clamping of the neck; the removal of theexcess material along the score lines; and the bowing of the clampingstaple. Aside from the stretching and clamping steps, the other stepscan be performed by simplified and known devices and these steps may bedone at a single station or at a plurality of stations. A particularnovel and unique fixture is provided, however, for performing thestretching and clamping steps as described in the foregoing. The purposeof this fixture or device is to make it possible to automate this partof the process to facilitate the economical and effective manufacture oflarge numbers of automatic closures rapidly. FIGURES to 15, inclusive,illustrate a preferred form of the fixture or tool for performing thestretching and clamping steps. This fixture .is designated generally bythe numeral 50 and is shown in perspective in FIGURE 15. It comprises abase member 51 having a first pair of channel members 53 and 54 havinginwardly turned channels or grooves 56 and 57 which form ways for asliding block 60. At the other end of the base 51 is a second pair ofchannel members, one of which may be seen at 62 having an internalchannel or groove 63. The second pair of channel members forms ways fora second sliding block 65. The block 60 has a base providing extendinglateral webs 67 and 68 which are received in sliding engagement with thechannels 56 and 57. The base of the sliding block 65 similarly hasextending webs at the bottom, one of which may be seen at 70 and thesewebs are slidable in the ways formed by the other pair of members, oneof which is designated by the numeral 62.

Positioned between the sliding blocks 60 and 65 in a position transversethereto is a generally rectilinear member 72. This member has a bottompart 73 which rests on the base 51 in a position between the slidingmembers or blocks 60 and 65. This m mb r has a front 75 4 face 74 havinga central outstanding projection 76 forming square shoulders adjacent toflat top surfaces 78 and 79 adjacent thereto, see FIGURE 15. Movement ofthe sliding blocks 60 and 65 is limited by stop screws as shown at 80and 81, which come into an engagement with the sides of the member 72 atthe bottom thereof.

Attached to the sliding block 60 is a member 84 having spaced inwardlyextending parts 85 and 85' which straddle the lower part of the frontface plate 29 of the member 72. The members 85 and 85 form anvilscooperating with movable jaws as will be described. Numeral designates asimilar member carried by the sliding block 65 and having spacedinwardly extending parts 91 and 91' which form anvils cooperating withanother set of movable jaws as will be described.

The block 60 has a transverse bore through which extends a shaft 95. Onone end of this shaft adjacent to the block 60 is a lever arm 96 in theform of a jaw. The member 96 has an inwardly extending bifurcated parthaving bifurcations 98 and 99 and at the ends of these bifurcations areformed teeth as shown at 101 for the bifurcation 98. On the other end ofthe shaft on the other side of the block 60 is another arm 103 at anangle to the arm 96 so that a bell crank lever is formed. The lever 103has an extending cylindrical projection 104 which forms a cam followeras will be described presently for operating the jaw 96.

Numeral 96 designates a similar jaw on the other side of the fixture onthe end of a shaft 95 extending through a transverse bore in the slidingblock 65. The jaw 96' extends inwardly and is like the jaw 96 and itsparts are identified by similar numerals primed, see FIGURE 15. On theother end of the shaft 95' is an arm 103 which is like the arm 103 andwhich similarly has an extending cylindrical projection 104' which alsoforms a cam follower. As will be described presently, the arms 103 and103 operate simultaneously to operate the jaws 96 and 96 in relation tothe anvils 85 and 91. Member 72 has a transverse bore 105 in which is acoil spring 106 which is secured to a pin 107 extending from arm 103 andto a similar pin extending from arm 103'. The spring tends to pull arms103 and 103 toward each other.

The block 60 has a transverse bore 110 and the block 6'5 has a similarbore. Positioned in these bores and extending through the front opening111 in the member 72, is a coil spring 112 as may be seen in FIGURE 14,the ends of which are suitably secured respectively to the blocks 60 and65 and tend to pull these blocks inwardly towards the center member 72.

As described in the foregoing in connection with FIG- URES 5 and 6,movable die means are provided for clamping the legs of the staple 24against the neck 33. Between member 72 and the plate 74 is the movabledie member 30 having a central rectangular depression 31 as may be seenin FIGURE 10. This die cooperates with an upper fixed anvil plate 29 onthe front of the member 72, and as described in connection with FIGURES5 and 6 and the legs of the staple 24 are clamped between the die member117 and the plate 29.

At the center front part of the member 72, there is an opening or space122. Extending transversely in this space is a shaft 123 and journalledon this shaft is an actuating lever having a shape as shown at 124 inFIGURE 14. The level 124 has an extending toe 126 which extends throughan opening in the plate into a position below the center part of themovable die 30 which slides between the plates 74 and 115. The other endof the lever 124 is bifurcated having extending legs and 125' whichstraddle the end of a plunger 132 and have end slots 127 and 127'. Themember 72 has a vertical bore 130 midway between its sides. The lowerend of this bore is tapered and connects with a bore of smaller diameter131 which connects with the space 122. Positioned in the bores 130 and131 is the plunger 132 having a transverse end pin 133 engaging in theslots 127 and 127 in the bifurcated end of the lever 124. The stem 132has an enlarged head 136. The head 136 on the plunger 132 is engageablewith the end of a screw 140 which extends from the transverse member 141forming part of a vertically movable head designated generally by thenumeral 143, see FIGURES 1 and 15'. The vertically movable head has aback plate 145 having downwardly extending cam legs 146 and 147 whichstraddle the member 72 as shown in FIGURE 15. The outside surfaces ofthe legs 146 and 147 are bevelled as shown at 150 and 151 to form camsurfaces engageable respectively with the projections 104 and -104 onthe lever arms 103 and 103. It will be understood that the head 143 iscaused to move vertically up and down and this movement is preferablyautomated and may be realized in a desired way.

In operation, as the head 143 descends, as illustrated in FIGURES and11, the cam surfaces 150 and 151 engage the projections 104 and 104moving the levers 103 and 103' outwardly against the force of spring106. This rotates the shafts 95 and 95 in a direction to move the jaws98, 98', 99 and 99 upwardly towards the anvils 85, 85', 91 and 91. Inthis manner, the neck closure being formed is clamped between the anvilsand jaws as may be seen in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13. Upon continueddownward movement of the head 143, when the jaws 96 and 96 become closedon the neck being fabricated as described, the action of surfaces 150and 15-1 of head 43 acting on the projections 104 and 104' causes thesliding blocks 60 and 65 to slide outwardly with respect to the centermember 72 against the force of spring 112. The neck portion which isgrasped by the jaws is now stretched laterally, the stretching includingthe portion between the legs 25 and 26 of the staple 2 4. The stretchingcontinues until the vertical end surfaces 152 and 153 of the head 143engage the projections 104 and 104'. As the head 143 continuesdownwardly, the screw 140 on transverse member -141 engages the head 136of plunger 132 forcing it downwardly. This rotates lever 124 around itsshaft 123. Its end part engages the bottom of die plate 30 moving itupwardly until its upper parts adjacent to the center depression 31engage the legs 25 and 26 of the staple 24 as shown in FIGURES 10, 11and 12 and as the member 30 continues upwardly the legs 25 and 26 of thestaple 24 are clamped against the surfaces of the neck 33 as may be seenin FIGURE 13. Preferably, the upper portions 154 and 155 of the die 30have depressions as shown which receive the legs 25 and 26 of the staplecausing them to be clamped in the manner shown in FIGURE 13.

Upon upward movement of the head 143, the plunger 132 is released andthe die 30 moves downwardly away from the clamped staple 24. As the head143 moves upwardly, the sliding blocks 60 and 65 are allowedto move backtogether and the jaws 96 and 96 move to release position so that theneck within the fixture is released and can be removed therefrom forperforming further steps of the process.

The entire process will next be briefly summarized. First, the steps arecarried out in sequence as described in connection with FIGURES 1, 2, 3and 4. The neck with the staple 24 in place is then inserted in thefixture as shown in FIGURES 10 to 15. The fixture is then operated inthe manner described in detail above to clamp the lateral side portionsof the neck portion 33 and to stretch it, and to clamp on the staplewith the neck in stretched condition, and then to release the clamp andstretched neck and staple. The neck portion with the staple clamping itis then placed in a separate die as shown in FIG- URE 7 and bowed bymeans of the plunger 36. The excess material may then be torn away alongthe score lines as previously described completing the finished articleas shown in FIGURE 9.

Those skilled in the art will observe that the process as described inthe foregoing achieves an extremely effective but economical andeflicient automatic closure which is of the type which automaticallyopens upon pressure resulting from squeezing the container, andautomatically closes when the pressure is released. The automaticclosure comprises only adjacent lip portions of the material of the neckwhich are not sealed together and the clamping or stiffening memberwhich holds the neck portions laterally stretched. The process comprisesrelatively simple steps making it possible to simply, effectively andeconomically fabricate the automatic closures rapidly and in quantity.The fixture or device, FIGURES 10 and 15, is constructed to be verysturdy, effective, and reliable for its purpose, the desired stretchingand clamping steps coming about merely as a result of the vertical upand down movement of the head.

From the foregoing those skilled in the art will observe that theinvention as described herein achieves and realizes all of the objectsand advantages as set forth in the foregoing as well as having manyadditional advantages that are apparent from the detailed description.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of theinvention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than alimiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of making a tube closure comprising forming a flattenedneck of resilient material having contiguous lip portions separable fromeach other to provide a discharge opening, stretching said necklaterally and securing a rigid member across the neck to hold it instretched condition whereby the said contiguou lip portions serve as anopenable discharge, the said lip portions being capable of being flexedapart by fluid pressure.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the rigid member is secured only atopposite side parts of said neck.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of securing the rigid memberacross the neck includes forming the rigid member as a staple havinglegs, positioning the staple with legs on opposite sides of the saidneck and clamping the said legs against side portions of the neck whilethe neck is stretched laterally so the staple holds it in stretchedcondition.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said neckincludes flattening a tubular sleeve, sealing flat sides of the sleevetogether at the end transversely, leaving an intermediate unsealed areato provide a discharge opening, punching holes through the sealed areaon opposite sides of the said intermediate area, and wherein the step ofsecuring the rigid member across the neck includes the legs of a staplethrough the holes, stretching the said sleeve laterally along the lengthof the staple and clamping the legs of the staple against portions ofthe sleeve adjacent the holes so that the staple holds a portion of thesleeve including the intermediate unsealed area in stretched condition.

5. Apparatus for producing an automatic closure neck from flexibleresilient material comprising a fixture having a pair of movable jaws,fixed anvils with which the jaws cooperate, means for closing the jawsto grasp side portions of a flattened closure neck made of resilientmaterial placed in the fixture, means for moving the jaws and anvils inthe fixture for laterally stretching the said neck, said fixtureembodying means movable towards the said flattened neck for clamping arigid member to the said neck for holding it is stretched condition.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 including a pair of pivoted bell cranklevers, said jaws being formed as one arm of each of the bell cranklevers, said bell crank levers each having another arm having a camfollower, said fixture including a movable head having surfacesengageable with said carn followers, the said surfaces beingconfigurated to rotate said bell crank levers to close said jaws againstthe anvils and to thereafter move the bell crank levers and anvilslaterally to stretch the said neck.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6, including plunger means movable by said headafter said neck has been stretched for operating said clamping means.

8. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein two assemblies are provided eachcomprising one of said bell crank levers, its mounting and one of saidanvils and means comprising transverse ways, said assemblies beingmounted in said ways for lateral movement relative to the fixture.

9. Apparatus for making an automatic container closure neck, formed froma flattened sleeve of flexible resilient material, the sides of thesleeve being heat sealed together leaving an onsealed neck, comprisingmeans for laterally stretching the material of said sleeve adjacent theneck, and means for securing a rigid member to areas at opposite sidesof said stretched neck portion of said sleeve stretched condition,

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said stretching means comprisesmechanism for grasping areas of the material at the sides of the neckand for moving outwardly to stretch the material and then to releaseafter the material is secured.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1925 Stanley 22764 X 2/1948Gilas 227156 7/1956 Herzig 222--49l 12/1957 Herzig 222-491 X 6/1959Little 25 l5 6/ 1959 Hirata 227-64 4/1967 Herzig 222491 CHARLIE T. MOON,Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING A TUBE CLOSURE COMPRISING FORMING A FLATTENEDNECK OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING CONTIGUOUS LIP PORTIONS SEPARABLE FROMEACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A DISCHARGE OPENING, STRETCHING SAID NECKLATERALLY AND SECURING A RIGID MEMBER ACROSS THE NECK TO HOLD IT INSTRETCHED CONDITION WHEREBY THE SAID CONTIGUOUS LIP PORTIONS SERVE AS ANOPENABLE DISCHARGE, THE SAID LIP PORTIONS BEING CAPABLE OF BEING FLEXEDAPART BY FLUID PRESSURE.
 9. APPARATUS FOR MAKING AN AUTOMATIC CONTAINERCLOSURE NECK, FORMED FROM A FLATTENED SLEEVE OF FLEXIBLE RESILIENTMATERIAL, THE SIDES OF THE SLEEVE BEING HEAT SEALED TOGETHER LEAVING ANONSEALED NECK, COMPRISING MEANS FOR LATERALLY STRETCHING THE MATERIAL OFSAID SLEEVE ADJACENT THE NECK, AND MEANS FOR SECURING A RIGID MEMBER TOAREAS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID STRETCHED NECK PORTION OF SAID SLEEVESTRETCHED CONDITION.